"I'm an artist who is a Christian. I'm not a Christian artist." Johnny Cash (see the entire Time Magazine final interview)

Did you catch the September 23 comic "Non Sequitur"?

The current "public relations" of the tribe known as Christians is pretty much a disaster. And, frankly, (in the USA) it has little to do with persecution for our beliefs. We've brought this on ourselves with all sorts of behavior that doesn't jibe with the finished work of Christ in our lives.

As Paul told Timothy, the goal of instruction is LOVE...both for God and for others. This is what will keep even our own people from distancing from the Tribe...and draw others to the reality that Christ won't turn you into a homogenized, anesthetized drone.

Love. Salt of the earth. Light of the world. Walking worthy of the call. The abundant life. When the "world" plays word association with the adjective "Christian," aren't these the characteristics that should come to their minds?

We should be embarrassed when our own family distances from us. It should make us introspective when the "world" makes fun of us and there's inarguable truth to it. So, let's help the "world" out today, kids, and let them see an authentic reality of what it means to follow Christ.